Persona is an openly distributed, cross-browser identity system providing a solution to the traditional password model. It addresses the usability deficiencies that plague other privacy-related systems such as OpenID, without resorting to a centralized infrastructure such as Facebook Connect.

The current approach for establishing and managing user namesand passwords is tedious, inefficient, and unsecure. Users must create and remember complex passwords for each site and service. Sites then must securely encrypt and store passwords to prevent the leaking of sensitive information. The prevention and negation of security leaks is the primary reason for the use of Persona, but the flexibility of its systems outclasses most standard identity security systems.

Persona eliminates the need for per-site passwords

Persona utilizes a safe, two-click system built on top of public-key cryptography for logging in to websites. The user's browser generates a cryptographic affirmation of identity that expires after a few minutes and is only valid on one site. By avoiding passwords, users do not need to worry about remembering several distinct passwords and need no longer be concerned with unsecure access to their password. This quick and easy sign-in process eliminates the current inefficiencies of traditional account registration and allows users to quickly establish accounts on websites.

Persona uses email addresses as identities

Persona's system relies on email addresses as their key component because of email's inherent versatile and private nature. The pre-existing infrastructure works very well from not only a design perspective but an ideal perspective of openly maintained and safe transfer of identity across the Internet.

Benefits forthe user

Users already know their email addresses. They don't have to learn a new and potentially confusing system, like OpenID.

Theemail addressescarefullycapture theidea ofsomeone@some-context. This makes it easier forusers to keep theiridentities@work, @home, or @school separate.This differs fromthe trend of linking together many accounts through realidentity, single-account policieson social networks like Google+ and Facebook.

Email canbe self-organizedor delegated toother providers,giving userscontrol of theiridentity. This ability is greatly diminished when one must consolidate many accounts into one identity.

Advantagesfor developers

Many login systemstreatemailaddressesasunique keys, so there is nolock-intoPersona and it can be integratedwithexisting accesssystems. Any user who has an email address can access content almost immediately.

HowPersonais differentfrom other providers ofsingle sign-on

Persona protectsprivacy, provides the user with control,and embellishes choicein a way thatother security providers can't. Manysocial networks likeFacebookandGoogle+require users touse theirreal names, accept their policies,andlimit users to onlyone account. Personaallows users tokeep their work, school, and social identities separate by using email addresses as a unique identifier rather than real names. Because of this anonymity you are guaranteed an extra layer of identity and network protection that most social networks do not have.

The efficiency of Persona allows an advanced relationship between developers and users. Mozilla is leading the way in open and free web development, and Persona supports Mozilla's design philosophy through its easy-to-use interface and user protection features.